Rep. George Santos Under House Ethics Committee Investigation: McCarthy

Kevin McCarthy, House Speaker, confirmed Tuesday that the House Ethics Committee opened an inquiry into Rep. George Santos. Some Republicans fear this could lead to the removal of the freshman representative from Congress.

“Ethics is moving through, and if ethics finds something, we’ll take action,” McCarthy spoke to reporters. “Right now, we’re not allowing him to be on committees from the standpoint of the questions that have arisen.”

According to McCarthy’s statement, McCarthy hasn’t called on Santos not to resign. CNNHe believes that voters should be able to determine the outcome.

Remarks about Santos from McCarthy come on the same day a group of Santos’ constituents planned to travel to Washington, D.C., demanding he resign or be removed by a House vote.

CNN’s Santos said that he is “not concerned” Concerning the Ethics Committee investigation and his constituents calling for him to resign.

“You’re saying that the freedom of speech of my constituents is a distraction to my work?” Santos asked. “Do you think people are a distraction to the work I’m doing here?”

Santos refused to resign amid claims that he had lied about his personal and professional life. This includes information regarding his education and work history.

Federal law enforcement reportedly has also investigated Santos for his alleged involvement with a terrorist organization. “GoFundMe scheme” that was set up for a disabled U.S. Navy veteran’s dog.

According to multiple reports and the Nassau County, New York, district attorney’s office, federal and local prosecutors have begun investigating whether Santos lied about finances on the campaign trail.

The New York Times reported last week that Brazil’s law enforcement officials were being investigated by the Times. “intend to revive fraud charges” Santos was charged in connection to an incident that occurred in 2008, involving a checkbook that was allegedly taken.

Santos asked McCarthy to remove him from two committee assignments last week amid multiple criminal investigations.

McCarthy would later claim that he had “new questions” about Santos, CNN reported.

CNN reported that Rep. Marc Molinaro (R.NY) believes his freshman GOP representative should resign.

“As I’ve said consistently, I think he ought to resign and really take stock of himself and start being honest, not only with the people he serves, but with himself,” Molinaro said.

Don Levy, Siena College Research Institute, told a local Fox The GOP congressman is facing growing suspicion from his constituents as an affiliate.

A Newsday/Siena poll found that 78% of Santos’ constituents want him to resign. However, 75% think he is not a competent representative.

“89% of Democrats, 72% of independents, and 71% republicans,” Levy added. “Rarely do you see numbers that are that aligned.”